Hunter shoots down Eagles

Wednesday

Jan 24, 2001 at 12:01 AM

Tom Manter Times-News Correspondent

BREVARD - Jake Hunter sat under the basket, looked up with 1:17 left in the game and watched the ref signal his fifth personal foul.

He walked off the court, having already done enough damage to visiting East Henderson. His 11-point offensive flourish in the final quarter toasted East to give Brevard an exciting 69-61 win over the Eagles Tuesday night.

The senior Blue Devil, known for his aggressive play at quarterback, played like a linebacker against East in one of Brevard's more physical games of the year.

"Hunter played like he was possessed," said Blue Devil coach Tim Trantham, "Wide open is the only way he knows."

East's Lauren Few played a bit possessed herself in the opening game, hitting 5-of-6 3-pointers in the first half to lead the Lady Eagles to a 73-59 win.

But the main event was the intensity of the boys' game and Brevard's stingy defense that frustrated East's Trent Strickland into one of his worst offensive outings of the year. The 6-5 junior scored just 12 points -˙10 in the third quarter when East grabbed a 50-42 lead -˙but was ineffective everywhere else.

Strickland missed two foul shots in the second quarter, then sat for the final seven minutes. He was on the bench at the end, when he's usually helping the Eagles battle down the stretch in tight games.

"We just couldn't get Trent the basketball," said East coach John Johnston, "And we stopped doing everything at the wrong times."

Brevard scooted to a 15-6 lead in the opening quarter, using a tough, physical defense that stymied East's starting lineup. Reserves Joe Nevius and D.J. Angram each scored three baskets in the second quarter to lead the Eagles, while the Blue Devils presented their version of a balanced offensive attack.

A 30-23 Brevard lead included Aundre Hemphill and Will Davis with nine points each. Hunter had eight, while Littlejohn, Jones, Crow and Foster had four apiece.

Strickland's third-quarter performance sparked a 27-point period for the Eagles and it appeared that a 50-42 lead would be enough to put the Blue Devils away.

But Hemphill's three-point play started Brevard on a nasty 25-5 run that wreaked of Hunter's sweat all the way to his fouling exit. Hunter's baseline drive cut East's lead to 50-49 on a goaltending charge against Strickland. Another driving layup was followed by yet another that put the Blue Devils ahead 54-53 and they never looked back.

It was 67-55 with 1:40 left in the game and the Eagles had managed just five foul shots in the final quarter.

The rest was history.

"We've lost the last four games in the last minute of play," said Trantham, "But the boys fought hard tonight, especially the second group. They all left their guts out there. And East is a good team."

Hunter earned the game-ball, but 12 from Hemphill and 10 from Davis aided Brevard to its ninth win of the season against eight losses.

East (7-11) was led by Strickland, Cooper (15 points) and Kenny Waters (10).

The Lady Eagles blitzed Brevard with a 27-point first quarter, which included four 3-pointers from Few. East finished the first half with a 12-2 run that buried the Lady Blue Devils.

Katie Coan and Elin Cope were the main offensive weapons for Brevard, each totaling six baskets, but Coan added six free throws for 18 points. Cope ended with 13 and Tiffany Clark chipped in with 11.